Woman Pleads Guilty to Robbing, Assaulting 7-Eleven Manager, Brandishing Gun at Norfolk Police Before Being Shot

NORFOLK, Va. — Charlene Denise Carey-Chavez, 37, pleaded guilty last month to robbery, grand larceny, misdemeanor assault, two counts of felony assault against law enforcement officers, and brandishing a gun following incidents earlier this year when she beat and robbed an employee inside a 7-Eleven and, the next day, pointed a gun at Norfolk Police officers attempting to arrest her, leading to the officers shooting and wounding her.

On April 24, Ms. Carey-Chavez entered the 7-Eleven at 800 E. Little Creek Road, went to the refrigerated drinks section and selected two beers, one of which the store manager saw Ms. Carey-Chavez conceal in a plastic bag that she had brought inside the store. When Ms. Carey-Chavez went to the checkout counter, she placed the one beer in her hand on the counter. The manager asked Ms. Carey-Chavez to remove the other beer from her plastic bag, which Ms. Carey-Chavez first denied having and then claimed to have had when she first entered the store. Ms. Carey-Chavez threatened the manager and argued with her before leaving the store.

The manager followed Ms. Carey-Chavez outside, and Ms. Carey-Chavez hit her, causing her to stumble backwards. Ms. Carey-Chavez continued hitting the manager until she fell to the ground. Ms. Carey-Chavez stood over the victim, turned her on her side, and continued punching down on her. The victim attempted to get back up, but Ms. Carey-Chavez continued assaulting and taunting her until she stayed down. While the victim was on the ground, Ms. Carey-Chavez ran back into the 7-Eleven, stole cash and several packages of cigarettes totaling over $1,100, took the beer she had left on the counter, and left the premises. The victim called Norfolk Police, provided a detailed description of Ms. Carey-Chavez, and was treated by medics for cuts and bruises to her face and hands.

On April 25, Ms. Carey-Chavez returned to the 7-Eleven, and employees who recognized her from the robbery she had committed the day before called the police. Officers Michael W. Toreno and Austin G. Harmon found Ms. Carey-Chavez soon after in a nearby parking lot holding several plastic bags and a gun. The officers, whose body cameras were recording, got out of their vehicle and ordered Ms. Carey-Chavez to drop her gun. Instead of complying, Ms. Carey-Chavez said, “No,” turned away from the officers, ran around a parked car, and tried to hide behind it. From there, the body-camera footage showed that Ms. Carey-Chavez raised her gun and took it out of the holster that had been attached to it, at which point the officers shot her, causing injuries to Ms. Carey-Chavez’s torso and leg. Once Ms. Carey-Chavez no longer had the gun, the officers gave her first aid and called paramedics.

Ms. Carey-Chavez was treated at a hospital until she was discharged on April 29, at which point she was brought before a magistrate and charged for both incidents.

On Nov. 5, Ms. Carey-Chavez entered an agreement to plead guilty as charged to robbery by force, grand larceny, and misdemeanor assault for the incident at 7-Eleven, and to two counts of felony assault against law enforcement as well as misdemeanor brandishing for the incident with the officers. Ms. Carey-Chavez’s plea agreement calls for an active sentence not to exceed the high-end of her state sentencing guidelines, which will be calculated in advance of her sentencing hearing. Judge Robert B. Rigney took Ms. Carey-Chavez’s plea agreement under advisement, pending a review of the guidelines, and set her sentencing hearing on Jan. 30, 2026.

“Over the course of two days, Ms. Carey-Chavez turned her shoplifting into a robbery and assault, and then she compounded the danger to the public, the police, and herself by arming herself with a gun and refusing to drop it when police repeatedly ordered her to do so,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We are lucky that Ms. Carey-Chavez did not get herself killed through her illegal and dangerous behavior. The officers in this case did exactly what they needed to do to protect themselves and the public. I thank them for their professionalism, and I thank the manager and employees at the 7-Eleven who called 911 and helped the police arrest Ms. Carey-Chavez. At sentencing we will seek a sanction proportionate to Ms. Carey-Chavez’s crimes.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie G. Johnson is prosecuting Ms. Carey-Chavez’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Lionel G. Jackson III led the investigation.

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